The Persian poets called love the “elixir” (iksir). The
alchemists believed that there existed a material in the world which
they called the “elixir” or “the philosopher’s stone”
(kimiya) which could change one matter into another matter, and they
searched after this for centuries.

The poets took over the use of this terminology and said that the real
“elixir” which has the power of transformation is love, because
it is love which can transmute a substance. Love, absolutely, is the
“elixir” and has the properties of the philosopher’s stone, which
changes one nature into another, and people also are different natures.

People are mines, like gold-mines and silver-mines.
It is love which makes the heart a heart, and if there is no love, there is no heart, just clay and water.

..Love makes the heavy and lazy nimble, cunning, and even makes the slow-witted astute..

..It is love which turns the miser into a benefactor, and an impatient
and intolerant person into someone with endurance and tolerance..